Thoughts about Royals

French State Visit to Belgium

President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron of France are on a 2-Day State Visit to Belgium, to celebrate and build diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties from November 19th to the 20th. This is the first French State Visit to Belgium since 1971.

In the morning, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde welcomed President and Madame Macron at an Official Welcome Ceremony at the Place des Palais (Paleizenplein) in Brussels, which was followed by a reception with the French Delegation and a Luncheon at the Royal Palace of Brussels. Afterwards, they visited the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent to see Van Eyck’s restored Mystic Lamb, and were received at the Ghent City Hall.

In the evening, King Philippe (in Uniform with the Sash and Star of the French Order of the Legion of Honour) and Queen Mathilde (wearing a maroon velvet gown, with the Base of the Nine Provinces Tiara, her diamond fringe earrings, and the Sash and Star of the French Order of the Legion of Honour) hosted a State Banquet in honour of President Emmanuel Macron (in the Belgian Order of Leopold) and First Lady Brigitte Macron at the Royal Castle of Laeken. Both the King and President gave speeches. Princess Astrid (wearing the Savoy-Aosta Tiara), Archduke Lorenz (in the Order of Leopold), Prince Laurent (wearing the Order of Leopold) and Princess Claire (in her Pearl and Diamond Tiara and the Order of Leopold) were also present.